Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Raul A. Gonzalez-Pech, David J. Hughes, Paige Strudwick, Brett M. Lewis, David J. Booth, Will F. Figueira, Brigitte Sommer, David J. Suggett, Jennifer Matthews
Summary: High-latitude reefs may serve as potential refuges for tropical coral species under climate change. The expansion of a branching subtropical coral near Sydney, Australia could provide shelter for other tropical coral taxa in warming seas.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
K. M. Quigley, M. J. H. van Oppen
Summary: This study combines remote sensing with breeding experiments to develop forecasting models for locating coral reefs with heritable heat tolerance. The findings predict hundreds of reefs that may be home to corals with high and heritable heat tolerance, which can be targeted for protection and restoration efforts.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Fisheries
Monique G. G. Grol, Julie Vercelloni, Tania M. Kenyon, Elisa Bayraktarov, Cedric P. van den Berg, Daniel Harris, Jennifer A. Loder, Morana Mihaljevic, Phebe I. Rowland, Chris M. Roelfsema
Summary: Subtropical reefs are important habitats for marine species and tourism. Volunteer-led ecological assessment of subtropical Flinders Reef highlighted variability in coral cover and identified site location and wave exposure as key factors influencing coral community composition. The findings can inform local management and Marine Park planning, with recommendations to expand protection zones for conservation benefits.
MARINE AND FRESHWATER RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Emad Kavehei, Syezlin Hasan, Carla Wegscheidl, Matthew Griffiths, James C. R. Smart, Carlos Bueno, Liz Owen, Kambez Akrami, Mel Shepherd, Scott Lowe, Maria Fernanda Adame
Summary: Treatment wetlands can effectively reduce nitrogen pollution in tropical and subtropical Australia, showing cost-effectiveness when properly located, designed, and managed. High-performing wetlands can remove nitrogen at a lower cost than the benchmark for the Great Barrier Reef, making them a viable option for reducing nitrogen pollution in the region.
Article
Plant Sciences
Jeff Chieppa, Ilka C. Feller, Kylie Harris, Susannah Dorrance, Matthew A. Sturchio, Eve Gray, Mark G. Tjoelker, Michael J. Aspinwall
Summary: Populations from different climates show unique growth responses to temperature, but it is unclear whether there are differences in physiological temperature acclimation among populations. In this study, we grew tropical and subtropical populations of two mangrove species under different temperature conditions and found that warming increased productivity of tropical populations more than subtropical populations. We also observed a consistent thermal acclimation of leaf respiration across populations, but with differences in the temperature sensitivity of leaf physiology.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jan-Niklas Macher, Martina Prazeres, Sarah Taudien, Jamaluddin Jompa, Aleksey Sadekov, Willem Renema
Summary: By analyzing large benthic Foraminifera of the genus Amphisorus from Western Australia and Indonesia, this study identified multiple morphologically and genetically unique Amphisorus types, as well as their relationship with dinoflagellate symbionts and associated microbes. While each Amphisorus morphotype harbored distinct bacterial communities, sampling location had a stronger influence on bacterial community composition.
Article
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
Hanh Nguyen, Matthew C. Wheeler, Harry H. Hendon, Eun-Pa Lim, Jason A. Otkin
Summary: During 2017-2019, Australia experienced severe drought with varied development and intensity, the impact of large-scale climate drivers on drought was limited, successful prediction of drought requires more local and current information.
WEATHER AND CLIMATE EXTREMES
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
B. C. Campbell, S. Van Haeften, K. Massel, A. Milic, J. Al Kouba, B. Addison-Smith, E. K. Gilding, P. J. Beggs, J. M. Davies
Summary: This study applied eDNA metabarcoding to analyze the composition of airborne pollen in different regions and seasons of Australia. The results showed that eDNA metabarcoding can accurately determine the types and quantities of pollen compared to traditional counting methods. However, further research is needed to optimize the metabarcode target for reliable detection of pollen at the genus and species levels.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Economics
Tyron J. Venn, Jack W. Dorries, Robert L. McGavin
Summary: In subtropical eastern Australia, hardwood sawmills are exploring opportunities to adapt to declining availability of traditional, large hardwood native forest logs through the manufacture of veneer and laminated veneer lumber (LVL) from comparatively abundant small, native forest logs. The financial viability of green and dry veneer production and sales was found to be unfeasible, while one-stage and two-stage LVL manufacturing proved profitable at larger scales with strong economies of scale. The mix of logs used for veneering had a significant impact on financial performance, with the optimal utilization of small logs for LVL production highlighted as a key factor in profitability.
FOREST POLICY AND ECONOMICS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Janet M. Davies, Beth Addison Smith, Andelija Milic, Bradley Campbell, Shanice Van Haeften, Pamela Burton, Benedict Keaney, Edwin R. Lampugnani, Don Vicendese, Danielle Medek, Alfredo Huete, Bircan Erbas, Edward Newbigin, Constance H. Katelaris, Simon G. Haberle, Paul J. Beggs
Summary: This study monitored grass and other pollen concentrations in four cities in eastern Australia and found that the complexity of grass pollen seasons is influenced by latitude. The magnitude of the grass pollen season is correlated with pasture greenness, rainfall, and the number of hot days within the season.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Ketema Zeleke
Summary: The rise in air temperature and changes in rainfall patterns are expected to affect agricultural production, specifically wheat yield. By using different emission scenarios and projection periods, it was found that climate change will lead to a decrease in wheat yield, but adapting agronomic practices can help mitigate these impacts.
Article
Forestry
Tyron J. Venn, Jack W. Dorries, Robert L. McGavin, William Leggate
Summary: In subtropical eastern Australia, hardwood sawmills are exploring the use of small logs in the manufacture of veneer-based engineered wood products. A mathematical model was used to estimate the financial performance of laminated veneer lumber (LVL) manufacture, with a focus on facility location and log procurement strategy. The study found that distributed production was more profitable when the LVL manufacturing facility was located far from the log resource, and that the level of value-adding and processing scale had a greater impact on financial performance than facility location.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Stephen D. A. Smith, Matt J. Nimbs
Summary: The Sea Slug Census program in Australia collaborates with citizen scientists to study the diversity and distribution of sea slugs. A recent census recorded unprecedented range extensions of tropical species, possibly due to ocean currents and climate changes.
Article
Geography, Physical
Angel Puga-Bernabeu, Javier Lopez-Cabrera, Jody M. Webster, Robin J. Beaman
Summary: The study reveals that the area affected by slope failures on the Great Barrier Reef margin is similar to siliciclastic-dominated passive margins, but the total volume of remobilized sediment is relatively small.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Endre Gy. Toth, Francesca Bagnoli, Giovanni G. Vendramin, Zsuzsanna Gyorgy, Ilaria Spanu, Maria Honh
Summary: The study aimed to evaluate the selection processes in extremely fragmented, peripheral, and isolated populations of Scots pine in central-eastern Europe. The findings revealed that natural selection has played an important role in shaping modern-day genetic variation, allowing for the long-term persistence of populations. Detected selection at functional regions possibly acts to maintain diversity and counteract the effect of genetic erosion.
Article
Ecology
Giada Tortorelli, Carsten Rautengarten, Antony Bacic, Gabriela Segal, Berit Ebert, Simon K. Davy, Madeleine J. H. van Oppen, Geoffrey McFadden
Summary: This study compared the surface glycomes of three symbiotic algae and explored the role of glycan-lectin interactions in host-symbiont recognition and establishment of symbiosis. The study found variations in the cell-surface glycome among different algal species and showed that trypsin treatment of algae altered the uptake rate of symbionts.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Justin Maire, Madeleine J. H. van Oppen
Summary: Coral reefs are declining rapidly due to widespread coral bleaching caused by elevated seawater temperatures. Experimental evolution of coral-associated bacteria can be used to enhance coral thermal tolerance, providing a valuable approach for coral reef conservation and restoration efforts.
TRENDS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Shayle B. Matsuda, Leela J. Chakravarti, Ross Cunning, Ariana S. Huffmyer, Craig E. Nelson, Ruth D. Gates, Madeleine J. H. van Oppen
Summary: This study examined the ability of horizontally transmitting coral larvae to establish symbioses with Symbiodiniaceae species from four genera with varying thermal thresholds. Results showed that Gerakladium outcompeted Durusdinium at high temperatures, while Fugacium performed best at 27 and 30 degrees Celsius.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Hugo J. Scharfenstein, Wing Yan Chan, Patrick Buerger, Craig Humphrey, Madeleine J. H. van Oppen
Summary: This study reveals that adult corals can acquire symbionts from the environment and demonstrates the feasibility of manipulating the symbiont communities of adult corals through chemical bleaching and reinoculation. This innovative approach could be highly relevant to coral reef restoration efforts.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Ashley M. Dungan, Leon M. Hartman, Linda L. Blackall, Madeleine J. H. van Oppen
Summary: This study investigates the integration of a bacterial consortium into the microbiome of a coral model to improve its thermal tolerance. However, the introduced bacteria did not persist in the coral's microbiome over time, and thus, the protective effect could not be assessed.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Madeleine J. H. van Oppen, Jean-Baptiste Raina
ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Octavio R. Salazar, Prasanna N. Arun, Guoxin Cui, Line K. Bay, Madeleine J. H. Van Oppen, Nicole S. Webster, Manuel Aranda
Summary: The study reveals a previously unrecognized metabolic pathway for cysteine biosynthesis in coral, expanding our understanding of animal metabolism. It also serves as a reminder not to generalize findings from model organisms.
Article
Microbiology
Yibi Chen, Sarah Shah, Katherine E. Dougan, Madeleine J. H. van Oppen, Debashish Bhattacharya, Cheong Xin Chan
Summary: The improved genome assembly of C. goreaui using long-read sequence data reveals structural features and highlights the role of genetic transfer in shaping its genome evolution.
Article
Plant Sciences
Caleb C. Butler, Kira E. Turnham, Allison M. Lewis, Matthew R. Nitschke, Mark E. Warner, Dustin W. Kemp, Ove Hoegh-Guldberg, William K. Fitt, Madeleine J. H. van Oppen, Todd C. LaJeunesse
Summary: This study identified five new species in the genus Cladocopium, which are widespread and have diverse hosts. These findings are important for understanding ecological research, genetic research, and conservation efforts in the face of environmental changes.
JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Ecology
Anastazia T. Banaszak, Kristen L. Marhaver, Margaret W. Miller, Aaron C. Hartmann, Rebecca Albright, Mary Hagedorn, Peter L. Harrison, Kelly R. W. Latijnhouwers, Sandra Mendoza Quiroz, Valeria Pizarro, Valerie F. Chamberland
Summary: Reversing coral reef decline requires reducing environmental threats and actively restoring reef ecological structure and function. Coral breeding is a promising approach to reestablish genetically diverse coral communities, but currently faces challenges of low survival and limited spatial scale and species diversity. To increase the effectiveness and scale of coral breeding in restoration, research and cooperative innovation efforts should prioritize expanding restoration sites and species, improving broodstock selection, enhancing culture conditions, and scaling up infrastructure and technologies.
RESTORATION ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biology
Wing Yan Chan, David Rudd, Madeleine J. H. van Oppen
Summary: Microbial symbionts in multicellular hosts often localize within specific body structures or cell types, playing critical roles in host health and nutrient exchange. However, conventional methods for measuring host-microbe metabolite exchange have limitations. In this study, we developed a mass spectrometry imaging workflow that allows for in situ analysis of host and symbiont metabolomes in a cnidarian animal without the need for isotopic labeling or skeleton decalcification. Our findings reveal the importance of specific lipids in regulating symbiont acquisition and distribution, and demonstrate the impact of symbiont identity on host metabolism.
LIFE SCIENCE ALLIANCE
(2023)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Hugo J. Scharfenstein, Carlos Alvarez-Roa, Lesa M. Peplow, Patrick Buerger, Wing Yan Chan, Madeleine J. H. van Oppen
Summary: Through chemical mutagenesis and thermal selection, Durusdinium trenchii, Fugacium kawagutii, and Symbiodinium pilosum strains of Symbiodiniaceae showed increased photosynthetic efficiency under thermal stress. However, there were trade-offs in the growth rates of the heat-evolved D. trenchii lineage at both ambient and elevated temperatures. Reduced nutrient uptake rates in F. kawagutii and S. pilosum heat-evolved lineages suggest changes in nutrition resource usage and allocation processes. These findings enhance our understanding of the physiological responses and adaptive capacity of Symbiodiniaceae cultures to thermal selection.
EVOLUTIONARY APPLICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Wing Yan Chan, Luka Meyers, David Rudd, Sanjida H. Topa, Madeleine J. H. van Oppen
Summary: Experimental evolution of coral microalgal symbionts can enhance the thermotolerance of adult corals without trade-off against growth under ambient temperature. This study demonstrates that heat-evolved symbionts can persist in corals for a long time and potentially provide long-term benefits to coral thermotolerance.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Marine Gouezo, Christopher Doropoulos, Dirk Slawinski, Ben Cummings, Peter Harrison
Summary: This study used macrophotogrammetry techniques to monitor benthic communities underwater and investigate recruitment and community succession. The researchers found that regardless of the imaging system used, there was a good level of resolution and accuracy in locating and measuring small organisms. This method can be applied to study recruitment and recovery processes in benthic environments, avoiding biases associated with laboratory analysis of artificial surfaces.
METHODS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Keren Maor-Landaw, Marion Eisenhut, Giada Tortorelli, Allison van de Meene, Samantha Kurz, Gabriela Segal, Madeleine J. H. van Oppen, Andreas P. M. Weber, Geoffrey I. McFadden
Summary: The symbiotic partnership between corals and dinoflagellate algae is crucial for coral reefs. The transporter protein BmSWEET1 in dinoflagellate cells is responsible for transferring glucose from algae to the host coral tissue, providing the necessary energy for coral reefs. This study provides insights into the mechanism of nutrient exchange in coral-algae symbiosis.
ISME COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
